What makes you proud?

[Blownupdolly]

This might sound a bit trivial to some, but I had one of the proudest moments of my life this week.

My little granddaughter aged 6, was born with a very deformed right foot. She has talipes (club foot) and another problem I can never remember the name of. From 3mths old until she started school, she had to wear metal bars and boots on her legs and to date has had three operations.
It was school sports day on Thursday. My daughter told me she was a bit upset on Tuesday as they did a practice and she came last in all three of her races. I sat her on my knee and told her that coming first was not the most important thing but trying her best was and no matter where she finished in her races I would be very proud knowing she had tried hard.
That night I was really upset about it to the point of tears.

Anyway... Sports day arrived and I managed to park my wheelchair right by the finish line. I was determined I was going to cheer her on as loud as I could.
WELL!!..... I couldn't believe it! She only went and came first in two out of her three races!! OK, one was a team effort relay race, but she was the final leg to the finish line and got a huuuuuge cheer! But the most amazing thing was that she won her individual running race by a whisker! Her stupid nanna burst into tears! Not tears because she won, but tears because I knew just how much it would have boosted her confidence.
I still have no idea how she managed to do it! She has an odd gait when she runs because of her problems, but as Mr Dolly said later, she might have problems, but she has worked out how to overcome them in style!

[beautycat]

Well done that's great, please pass on my congratulations

[Deleted]

Nice to read a happy ending. Well done to GD Dolly. Delighted for her. congrats

[meeee]

Thata a lovely story Dolly.

[kailey]

That made me quite teary, Dolly. A big congratulations to your granddaughter and thank you for sharing this lovely event.

[kirrielad]

Lovely story dolly, good on your GD!

[alvoram]

Lovely story to brighten up the day, thanks blownupdolly. And congrats to your GD.

[fiddles]

That's the mystical powers of nana no Knickers at work

You tell her there is nothing she can not do if she puts her mind to it, lovely story

[magicma]

Lovely result, you must be very proud. MMa xxxx

[Blownupdolly]

Jul 13, 2013 8:26:02 GMT beautycat said:

Well done that's great, please pass on my congratulations

Thanks Hun. I will tell her. Xx

[dinamic22]

Aww bless her what an achievement for her

[Blownupdolly]

Jul 13, 2013 10:55:38 GMT fiddles said:

That's the mystical powers of nana no Knickers at work

You tell her there is nothing she can not do if she puts her mind to it, lovely story

trust you to remember that.

That is exactly what I have been telling her ever since she has been old enough to understand me. I think it should be drummed into every child.

Sadly, I was adopted and raised by my grandparents who were very old fashioned. Constantly told I had ideas above my station, and when I went into business, my dad/grandad didn't speak to me for 6mths as he reckoned I should have been at home chained to the sink with my kids. Over my dead body will my grandchildren take anything like that on board.

[Cheralynn]

Aw, i just love reading things like this , it just goes to show that whatever life chucks at you, with willpower and determination even at her young age, you can do things and change things. She will have so much more confidence now, good on her

[Blownupdolly]

Jul 13, 2013 14:51:22 GMT Cheralynn said:

Aw, i just love reading things like this , it just goes to show that whatever life chucks at you, with willpower and determination even at her young age, you can do things and change things. She will have so much more confidence now, good on her

The image that will stay with me forever is when she crossed the finish line.

She came to a sudden halt stumbling forward slightly. She then stood very still looking at her feet. She turned her head towards me and I was holding two thumbs up at her yelling "you little star!!" Her face change from utter shock to a beaming grin.

Mr Dolly videod it on my phone. I am going to keep it and trawl it out every time she doubts herself in future.

[Beatnik]

Awww BD I got a lump in my throat and tear in my eye reading that! Well done that young lass...